Apparatus for making carbon black



Oct. 24, 1961 T. A. RUBLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARBON BLACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1958 '7zz%/a ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1961 T. A. RUBLE 3,005,689

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARBON BLACK Filed Dec. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR BY G /A flaw/2 ATTORNEY United States Patent '3 cc 3,005,689 APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARBON BLACK Theodore A. Ruble, Amarillo, Tex., assignor to Continental Carbon Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 777,390

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 23-2595) The present invention relates to the manufacture of carbon black from any type of hydrocarbons, including petroleum oils.

It is generally known in the art that the superior grades of carbon blacks characterized by smaller particle size. are obtained by high temperature cracking reaction which proceeds to its conclusion in the shortest possible time; and that the high temperature is attained by complete combustion of a fuel gas and the injection of hydrocarbon mist or vapor directly into the hot products of combustion. Usually, excess air is admitted into the combustion process in order to obtain additional heat from the partial combustion of the oil. It is also well known in the art that rapid mixing of the hydrocarbon mist or vapor with the hot products of combustion is essential for carbon black possessing the desired particles of small size.

I am aware of numerouspatents which disclose the obtaining of oil mists or vapors either by heat vaporization or mechanical spray nozzles, as well as other patents which disclose refractory lined furnaces which are so constructed and arranged as to obtain turbulent flow and thorough mixing of the hydrocarbon mist or vapors with the hot products of combustion of either fuel gas or oil. Also the patent, and other, literature contains disclosures of a combination of mist injection and refractory lined furnaces for producing carbon black that depend upon rotational flow or refractory obstructions or similar devices to obtain turbulence and mixing of the hot products of combustion and the carbon containing feedstock.

, It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for making carbon black from hydrocarbon, such as petroleum oils, and particularly one wherein the combustion air and fuel gas are mixed by a high degree of turbulence, the air-gas mixture ignited, and the hydrocarbon (in mist or vapor form) introduced into the flame base at the point where combustion starts; and does not depend on prior complete combustion of gaseous fuel. Extreme turbulence is obtained by passing a mixture of gas and air at high velocity through a metallic orifice or restriction, and the further expansion of the gas by rapid combustion. By injecting the oil mist or vapor directly into this extremely turbulent and burning zone prior to complete combustion, the cracking reaction obtains its heat instantaneously as the heat is released from the combustion. The extreme turbulence, heat, and mixing is al most entirely obtained by the arrangement of the injection device and is not dependent upon a refractory furnace lining of intricate design. In this connection, ex cellent results have been obtained by using a simple refractory tube which is cylindrical in shape and which contains no obstructions, refractory orifices, or other devices calculated to promote turbulence.

According to the apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to protect the refractory walls of the furnace from carbon deposits by utilizing an envelope of combustion gases which surround the injected oil mist or vapor, since the reaction is virtually complete before the hydrocarbon mist or vapor can reach the refractory walls.

Another object is the provision of a novel apparatus wherein the quality of the end product may be varied over a rather wide range by regulating the velocity of the hydrocarbon through the injector, recognizing that the higher the velocity, the greater the turbulence which results in carbon black of smaller particle size.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus capable" of obtaining the foregoing objectives which is comp'ara tively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain.

Generally stated, the apparatus of the present invention is constructed and arranged to effect: 1

(l) Co-mingling of the fuel gas and air in the inlet port (or ports) of a combustion chamber.

(2) Thorough mixing of the fuel gas and air by passing the mixture through an orifice or restriction at high velocity.

(3) Passage of the mixture of fuel gas and air immediately into a combustion chamber wherein the gas burns in a turbulent flame at a high temperature.

(4) Introduction of the oil (hydrocarbon) in an atomized orvvaporized state into the turbulent flame base where the combustion starts, whereby the finely subdivided hydrocarbon .comes in violent .contact with the turbulent hot gases, resulting in arapid rate of heat transfer to the hydrocarbon and rapid cracking to carbon black. I t

(5) Cooling of the hot gases and suspended carbon black by means of quench sprays or heat exchanges, 'or both, to a point where the reaction stops and the gas is cool enough to handle in a carbon black collecting device. t

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexeddrawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodi-' ments of the invention, these being indicative of some of several ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. V i

In said drawings: 7 a

FIGURE 1 is a' longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of a form of apparatus which embodies the teachings of the present invention; and v FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal view, partly in section, which illustrates in detail the orifice type burner of the apparatus. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2. designates an elongate'rnetallic housing or shell which'is provided at each end with an inwardly directed annular flange 3. v I v Disposed within the metallic housing or shell 2 and its annular end flanges 3 is a refractory furnace lining 5 which defines a cylindrical chamber 6 within whichthe combustion and cracking operations take place.

That portion of the refractory lining which defines the inlet end of the furnace or reactor is shaped to provide an axially disposed cylindrical inlet port 7 of reduced diameter.

Disposed to extend partially into the cylindrical'inlet port 7 is a cylindrical sleeve- 8, the inner endv of which carries an annular flange 10, vwhich extends inwardly at approximately the latter forming a flame orifice ring, as will be later described.

To the rearward or upstream end of the cylindrical shell 8 there is connected an air supply conduit 12 of similar diameter.

Within the cylindrical sleeve 8, and closely adjacent its inwardly directed annular flange 10, is a fuel gas discharge ring 14 which is supported by and communicates with, a series of fuel gas supply pipes 16. The function of the fuel gas discharge ring 14 is to distribute the fuel gas around the annular flange 10 (which forms the flame holder ring) on the upstream side of the cylindrical sleeve 8. In order that this may be effectively done, the fuel gas Patented Oct. 24, 196i liw ar si reactiontime and the oil ra'te dlschargei ring, bi manifold, "14 is provided with a series of'jetsliwhich aiequkdistantly spaced and directed upstream, or toward the rear of the cylindrical sleeve 01' fl b -8-. "the ir id uel asi a x fi m e rj ha. thefl flpjf'griess sn ns-s6 that the flai'n'e' will not 'flasii back into the fla'rcie' holderl f oil, supply, pipe is s yvnat go as extending axially withiri' the cylindrical' ('fia e' holder) sleeve 8; faiid iitis provided with a spray head, 212,wliicli is disposed slightly rearwardly of thev fuel discharge ring 14. Thus, the oi -is .sflpp sl i sh, dil P n 2.0 n s y' d :gihe 'c bnibufstion clianiber 6 at the point where combus tion starts. The spray head 22 atomizes the oil intorfihe droplets which are suspended in the highly turbulent -H- i-J i: 7

head 6 nozzle, 22 mayberemdved and anopn-end oil p iit' nbsfitmd i i f fr s the gssana "panned arses tilack-ieav the cam bastion 'z on ep the hydrocarbon U reaction is cing, atd 'rniiedl water 25 aq a; ay. P ser xrhesesp'r y p rs acc m e date water pipes and spray heads or noz'zles' which, be, g well known in the art, are neither shown in the' drawings not specifically referred t'o hei'einafter. f

rang-q; 'irne lated is j tti ask-aria 5s; 30 twe n, t e fla e/1 9 s; annular i war xtildri mg flange io'on the innerrend of the cylindrical sleeve 8) a d quenchspray, and as many spray ports 30. as

forest ed; the of the carbon,

c itr -,-1 Ir, qa' ly b th ,venc y; mmns rha me holder orifice, thisi velocity being regulated by thefiow of air andsfuel ga Pssin'glthrough theorifice,and the v manifold'andd rectedrearwa'1 diameter of the orifice. Higher velocities through gitlie orifice provide more turbulence, resulting-iri s as ticle size carbon black that has a hi her "abrasionresisteancei irnbliertiresj,

Secondary cannon-er ries 53565 $153k sausage; i

srr aii a sr a wa ibss in t i h l a disclosed herein'will produce a midi rii'eiiiza than is isnbdscd into the nann es; sane.

stabl Ra n r e espash s ns fl raid: s

The products consisting of gases andrsris'pended cat" on -I blackarecooled by meansof-the aforementioned quench f Mil/fir h bi P w 1 Q I i S: t 1.6 an: a f lefi ill fi Q. fia d az-iifl (if we .staiidar collecting devices c'em'oaite the caress the appended claims.

3 P ne .t n n v v A i q black industry. Most of the suspended carbon black is removed in'the carbon black collector; and the efliuent gases are discharged to the atmosphere.

While Ihave shown and described certain specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily understood that I do not wish to be limited exactlytherewas r. va' iv m q fi snis may; h a h ih dq arting frorn ithe scope of the invention as defined in 1. In an apparatus for making carbon-black comprising a primary cylindrical heatinsulatedreaction chamber having acylindrial heat insulated inlet port; a ci rc'u lar sleeve disposed in and removable from said iniet porfi inner end. ots-aid circular sleeve terminating an in- Wardly extending annular flange; said circular sleeveineluding it'sannular flange being sub'stantially irnperforatej ir ar ma d di s i sa dv q ris s 's diatelyadjacent therear wardside of said annular an e; a serie's pfjets communicating with said circ'ular rnahifold and directed reams ely with respect ereto; at l'eastone conduit for supplying frieljg'as to said crrc Iar ,mamfold; an oil supply pipe disposed axially of terminating adjacent to and spaced upstream of the "rear;

wa sili. ten in annul rfiange; .said circular sleeve m1- eluding its annular flange being substantially imperfioratej afiivrula' mani ol disp sed n,said-. eve sdia' el adi nt the. i rw'ard S fi .5 s id. n ea. ssent. J's 8 lar in old; an on supply pipe disposed axially on I cylirid in t .o t;' the, m' endp aid ni ui p i' 6 9 i lfii Qfd i lQi SllPP 2 126 3 i n i r supplying comutistien air t6 he li iterior of said circular asse vUNITE TATEsPATENTs Ian; 13,1955 1115629, 1 951 Apfl 30:1 951 625,466 Williams 2532150; 2;7 09;838 130 3 7 1 4 Pennies: sinn rs I 3433-7197" Qi Brit v 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARBON BLACK COMPRISING A PRIMARY CYLINDRICAL HAT INSULATED REACTION CHAMBER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL HEAT INSULATED INLET PORT, A CIRCULAR SLEEVE DISPOSED IN AND REMOVABLE FROM SAID INLET PORT, THE INNER END OF SAID CIRCULAR SLEEVE TERMINATING IN AN INWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE, SAID CIRCULAR SLEEVE INCLUDING ITS ANNULAR FLANGE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE, A CIRCULAR MANIFOLD DISPOSED IN SAID CIRCULAR SLEEVE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE REARWARD SIDE OF SAID ANNULAR FLANGE, A SERIES OF JETS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CIRCULAR MANIFOLD AND DIRECTLY REARWARDLY WITH RESPECT THERETO, AT LEAST ONE CONDUIT FOR SUPPLYING FUEL GAS TO SAID CIRCULAR MANIFOLD, AN OIL SUPPLY PIPE DISPOSED AXIALLY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL INLET PORT, THE INNER END OF SAID OIL SUPPLY PIPE TERMINATING ADJACENT TO AND SPACED UPSTREAM OF THE REARWARD SIDE OF SAID CIRCULAR MANIFOLD, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING COMBUSTION AIR TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CIRCULAR SLEEVE. 